Hard to Compute: Tech Facts

#15 Internet couples

One out of every eight married couples in 2011 met on the internet. After all, why bother working your way through the dating pool when you can filter out potential significant others a la Google Advanced Search?

#14 Facebook hackers

Facebook will pay you at least $500 if you can find out a way to hack the site. In fact, they frequently pay much more- the reason being that they want to find all of the possible weaknesses in their system so they can be patched up.

#13 Amazon

Amazon now sells more e-books than print books. Alas, more bad news for all you old-fashioned types out there, with book stores closing left and right. Oh well. Buy a Kindle!

#12 Google searches

Google handles about 1 billion search queries per day, releasing some 200 tons of carbon dioxide in the process. Bet you didn’t think your desire to learn more about the Harlem Shake phenomenon would leave a carbon footprint, did you?

#11 17 billion

By the end of 2012, it is estimated that there were 17 billion devices connected to the internet. That’s around 2 and a half times as many devices as there are people on Earth!

#10 80% of downloads

Of the 13 million music files available online, 52,000 songs account for 80% of the downloads. We feel like there’s an “Occupy” joke in here somewhere….

#9 Garages

HP, Google, Microsoft, and Apple were all started in garages. The fact that they are all now (obviously) household names just proves the old adage that big things can come in small packages.

#8 Video games vs DVDs

Since 2008, video games have outsold DVD movies. Is gaming really becoming that ingrained in our society? Is a combination of pirating and Netflix making DVDs obsolete? Our bet is that it’s both.

#7 Spam

“Spam” accounts for 60 percent of all emails sent. In fact, according to Google, one-third of all Gmail servers are filled with spam. This includes ads for shady companies, discounts on pills that don’t really work, letters from Arab sheikhs, etc.

#6 eBay transactions

On eBay, there are an average of $680 worth of transactions taking place each second. Fun fact: A woman once tried to sell her soul on eBay for $2000. Yeah.

#5 Laptops vs notebooks

70% of college students use computers rather than notebooks to take notes during lectures. After all, it’s faster and it comes equipped with the internet, so you can just watch viral videos when things get too boring.

#4 Internet traffic

Internet traffic is growing at the rate of fifty or sixty percent a year, according to a study by the University of Minnesota. You know what more people online means, right? Yep, more people posting pictures of their cats. Sigh.

#3 Typists

On an average work day, a typist’s fingers travel 12.6 miles. Despite this startling number, we have to imagine that they do NOT count this towards their cardiovascular exercise for the day.

#2 Blinking

The average computer user blinks 7 times per minute; the average rate of blinks per minute is 20. You’ve often heard that computer screens hurt our eyes- well, this is part of the reason.

#1 Google’s electricity usage

Google uses an estimated 15 billion kWh of electricity per year, more than most countries. However, they offset this by generating their own energy through solar panels!


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Hard to Compute: Tech Facts

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Top 10 Most Expensive Classic Cars Ever Sold On eBay

eBay is an incredible place, where many random and wonderful things are bought and sold every day, but it’s the eBay Motors side of the site we’re interested in. Every day, people bid and win cars, but what about the motors which are worth serious cash? Just how much do they go for, and what are the top 10 most expensive classic cars ever sold on there?

Well, let’s have a look.

10. 1971 Ferrari Daytona 365 GTB/4-A

That’s one hell of a name, right? It’s worthy of such a ludicrous name though, because it is, after all, a Ferrari – and quite a special Ferrari at that. A standard Ferrari Daytona would sell for a ridiculous amount of money on eBay, but this special 365 GTB/4-A is one of only 14 ever made. It’s a race-prepped Daytona with flared wheel arches and 352bhp. Oh, and it’s heavier than the standard Daytona, by at least the equivalent weight of WWE wrestler The Big Show.

If the allure of the rarity of this car doesn’t impress, then the beauty and style will. This is a car which is perfectly suited to the streets of Monte Carlo or St Tropez. It is, without any question, a timeless classic, and it was sold on eBay for a staggering $700,000.

9. 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR

Porsche’s design department may be known as some of the “laziest in the world” according to Jeremy Clarkson, but they were definitely on form when designing the beautiful, and powerful, 911 Carrera RSR. As the name suggests, it is a 911, only this one raced all over the world. It’s a proper Porsche racing car, so it comes as standard with serious traction and go-kart-like handling.

This car went for a wallet-bashing $750,000 on eBay but. despite the ridiculous price, it remains one of the best-looking racers Porsche has ever produced.

8. Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman

The 600 Pullman is one of Mercedes’ finest efforts. They were owned by so many celebrities and dictators, that Mercedes became a by-word for absolute luxury and prestigious build-quality. Unfortunately, if you want a piece of the 600 Pullman these days, you will have to hand over a frightening $750,000 – like one lucky buyer did on eBay.

Still, you’ll be in great company, as Hugh Hefner, Elvis, and Coco Chanel have all owned a 600 in the past.

7. 1953 Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn

Who wouldn’t want to own such a beautiful and historic car like the Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn? Aside from boasting a brilliant name, the Silver Dawn is one of Rolls-Royce’s finest hours in the aesthetic department; just look at it.

One of these beauties sold for $750,000 on eBay, and we can only imagine the buyer is enjoying the 4.6-litre engine, as the mouths of one passer-by after another comically drop.

6. 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4

Another Ferrari, and another unbelievable auction price, at $850,000. The provocative Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is one of Ferrari’s most desirable models, thanks to its timeless design and 300bhp V12 quad-cam engine. It was also the first Ferrari to come with alloy wheels instead of the old-school wire-wheels, so it marked a step forward to modern times for the Prancing Horse.

Often dubbed as one of the best sports cars of the 1960s, the 275 GTB/4 is a real collector’s car, and will remain so for decades to come.

5. 1967 Chevrolet Corvette

The standard Chevrolet Corvette is a lovely car, no doubt; but the special version, the L88 C2-generation Corvette, was the one to have. This car was bonkers fast and barely street-legal, thanks to a rumored 560bhp, race brakes, differential, and improved suspension. While the thought of 560bhp in 1967 may scare some of you, the buyer who shelled out $850,704 for this car on eBay clearly was not.

Let’s hope they can keep it on the straight and narrow.

4. 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda

A proper American muscle car legend, the 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda featured a huge 426 Hemi V8 under the bonnet which produced 425bhp. With all that power and torque in a chassis which didn’t really inspire confident cornering, it meant for one hell of a ride. This one sold for a mind-blowing $899,000 on eBay, which is a lot of money for a house, never mind a car!

3. 1937 Alfa Romeo 2300MM

$1.2 million for a car that pre-dates the Second World War; would you buy it if you had that type of money? Well, it would probably depend on just how special the car is. And this Alfa Romeo 2300MM is pretty special, indeed. Having raced in the stupidly dangerous Millie Miglia, the 2300MM was driven by Ercole Boratto, who was partnered by Benito Mussolini. This car has it all: history, racing pedigree and stunning looks!

2. 1933 Duesenberg SJ Speedster

Isn’t she lovely? Even Stevie Wonder could see that this 1922 Duesenberg SJ Speedster is one of those cars which only comes around once a decade. Selling for a biblical $2.6 million on eBay, it goes down as the second most expensive classic car ever sold on the site, and easily one of the most justified.

Only 36 cars were ever produced, and all of them were given a supercharger and 320bhp – which, in 1933, would have been terrifying.

1. 1959 Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder

Is this the best looking Ferrari ever made? It’s certainly one of the most expensive; in fact, this is the most expensive car ever to be sold on eBay, at a ridiculous $3.26 million. There’s not too much to say about this car, purely because, well, look at it; have you ever seen such a beautiful and perfect car?

It’s hard to describe just how visually appealing the 250 GT is, but one buyer clearly thought their $3.26 million in the bank was due for some action, and subsequently bought one of the most praised and rare Ferraris ever made.

Thank you to Louis Rix, Marketing Director and automotive enthusiast at Netcars.com, the UK’s fastest-growing used car classified website, for contributing this great Top 10 list.

Source: www.toptenz.net

Top 10 Most Expensive Classic Cars Ever Sold On eBay

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